New England unemployment rate up again

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The unemployment rate in New England climbed in August, but it is still below the national average.

The New England office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday the jobless rate in the six-state region was 7.3 percent last month, up from 7.1 percent in July. A year ago, the rate in New England was 7.8 percent.

Rhode Island's unemployment rate of 10.7 percent is the highest in the region and the second highest in the country. Vermont's rate of 5.3 percent is the lowest in the region and the fifth lowest in the U.S.

The national jobless rate in August was 8.1 percent — down one percentage point from a year ago.